More than 1,000 people died from heat-related causes during the recent heat wave in Spain, as the country recorded its hottest first half of the year on record, officials said on Wednesday.

Spain's Carlos III Health Institute said in a report that at least 1,028 heat-related deaths were reported during the heat wave last month.

This number was more than double the 407 recorded in June 2025. This was also the most deaths attributed to heat in June since 2015.

On June 23, ‌at the peak of the heat wave, 35.7 million people, which made up roughly 73% of Spain's population, ‌were ​exposed to health risks

Spain's national weather agency Aemet said in a post on X that last month was the country's second-hottest June on record, with temperatures averaging 3.2 degree Celsius above normal.

"The first half of 2026 becomes the warmest for the whole of Spain since records began, with a temperature 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal," Aemet posted.

Europe's record-breaking heat wave
The recent heat wave, which scorched much of Europe, was the continent's most severe on record.

Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) have broken records in France, Germany and other European countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has blamed the heat wave for more than 1,300 additional deaths across Europe, with that number likely to rise.

The extreme heat broke all-time temperature records in several European countries, including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, with France experiencing its highest-ever nighttime temperatures.

What do scientists say?
According to meteorologists, the heat wave is being driven by a mass of hot air moving north from the Sahara, fueled by a strong high-pressure system known as the "African anticyclone."

The high-pressure system has created a so-called "heat dome," which traps hot air over Western and Central Europe, allowing temperatures to climb day after day.

Experts say human-induced climate change has intensified temperatures, making this year's record heat wave up to 4 degrees Celsius hotter.

Portugal issues red warnings for Thursday, Friday
Meanwhile, neighboring Portugal on Wednesday was warning residents, particularly in the west, to prepare for the next spell of high temperatures.

Red heat warnings from the IPMA weather agency are in place for two western regions, Lisbon and Setubal directly to the south, on Thursday, with highs of 40 Celsius forecast in the capital.

Four states face extreme heat warnings on Friday, and most of the country is subject to an orange heat alert.

Medium-term forecasts currently suggest that the high pressure and hot temperatures will start to spread east and north to Spain, Italy, France and perhaps beyond in the ensuing days.